U.s. Public Education System - 952 Words

The U.S. public education system contains tremendous inequality, much of which is maintained through the institution itself. We believe the system to be based on the principles of a strong work ethic and equal opportunity – key components of the dominant American ideology, which are in turn made reasonable by the schooling system. Furthermore, structural factors such as cumulative advantage, which explains how those who are successful gain additional success, offer an explanation for the inequalities in the school system that cannot be described or solved by money. Therefore, through the legitimation of the dominant American ideology and the process of cumulative advantage, the U.S. public education system perpetuates social inequality within the classroom and provides more power to those already born with greater life chances. In social theory, there is a long-standing debate over whether structure or agency is central in shaping human behavior. While structure refers to the underlying set of rules for how a society works, agency refers to the ability of the individual to exert choice or will within this structure. The interplay between these two distinct perspectives is key in shaping ideology: a way of seeing that appears natural and inevitable, and provides the rationalization for society’s structure (Marger 222). In the United States, the dominant ideology consists of various beliefs, including individualism, equality of opportunity, meritocracy, and work ethic (McNameeShow MoreRelatedU.s. Public Education System863 Words   |  4 PagesThe U.S. public education system has been a controversial topic for many years; by virtue of budget cuts, overcrowding, and lack of innovation which negatively impacted the effectiveness of schools. According to a report by Education Week, â€Å"29 nations and other jurisdictions outperformed the United States [in mathematics] by a statistically significant margin (Heitin). Coupled with the 19th and 22nd ranking of literacy and science respectively, it is evident students are not receiving a quality educationRead MoreU.s. Public Education System854 Words   |  4 PagesThe U.S. public education system has been subject for debate for many years now, budget cuts, overcrowding and lack of innovation have severely impacted the effectiveness of our schools. As a result, according to a report by Education Week, â€Å"In mathematics, 29 nations and other jurisdictions outperformed the United States by a statistically significant margin, up from 23 three years ago† (Heitin). Coupled with our 19th and 22nd ranking of literacy and science respectively, because of this, we canRead MorePublic Education : The United States912 Words   |  4 Pages Public education is a good that is privileged to everyone in the United States. While education may seem extensive and unnecessary, especially to youth, achieving an education has benefitted people through the history of the U.S., which in turn benefits the U.S.’s welfare. When Thomas Jefferson advocated the opening of public schools in the early 1800s, his plan was only half fulfilled; only wealthy communities could afford public schools (Watson 2). This remained true until the early to mid 1900sRead MoreA Discussion Of Constitutional Law And Its Relationship With Education1031 Words   |  5 PagesLaw and Its Relationship with Education Education is not explicitly mentioned in the United States Constitution, but instead, education is one of the powers reserved to the states. Power not specifically given to the federal government is reserved for the states through the Tenth Amendment of the Unites States Constitution. Therefore, states have plenary, or absolute, power in the area of education. While states may hold this reserved power, with regard to education the federal government has foundRead MoreRelations Between The United States And The Europe1691 Words   |  7 PagesPeterly Jean Baptiste US- EU relations Introduction Relations between the United States and the Europe dates back as far to 1950. Back in those days the U.S dealt with the ECSC, European Coal and Steel Community. The ECSC was created in the wake of WWII, established by the Treaty of Paris, with the sole purpose of uniting Europe which had been hammered by three increasingly destructive wars. The ECSC’s objective of unity was forged through the creation of a free trade area for several key economicRead MoreComparing Germany s Education System859 Words   |  4 PagesIn comparing and contrasting Germany’s Education System to the U.S Education System, one would find both similarities and differences; however, one enormous difference is that tuition is free to the students in the Germany’s Public School System and higher educational institutions (Flippo, 1996). More importantly, Parks (2014) explained, that if an American wanted to be educated in Germany, the tuition would be free, but in order to obtain a bachelorà ¢â‚¬â„¢s degree in Germany, the American student wouldRead MoreComparative Analysis on Education System Between France and the U.S. 1370 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Analysis on Education System between France and the U.S. Throughout our lives, we acquire knowledge and as we continue to grow, so does our learning process. Everyday we learn something new, whether it be about ourselves or the way life seems to work. People strive to educate their children in order to prepare them in becoming a fruitful member of society. It starts off while being a young child; we obtain information through our parents or close relatives. However, as we grow up,Read MoreThe Face Of Education And The Changes It Has Undertaken Throughout History1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe face of education and the changes it has undertaken throughout history in the U.S. is a constant flow that thus alters the fabric of the American society. To provide an educated workforce for the future has been the job of educators for centuries, but with a greater immigration movement and presence, an educator s’ ability is limited and the fate of such children are left to suffer. Pulling from America’s position as a â€Å"melting pot † of different cultures and people, students should not be subjugatedRead MoreGovernment Accountability918 Words   |  4 PagesThe U.S Department of Education as is seen as being under the supervision of the President. In addition, the accountability of the public institutions in the United States is primarily relies on the regulation rather than the public participation (Chandler, 2000). He argues that the laws provide an adequate accountability for the public administration. Although the U.S. Government has the Freedom of Information Act which allows people to seek information about the government programs and activitiesRead MoreImmigrant Children and U.S Education1257 Words   |  6 PagesAware of the free education provided by the United States government to any school age children, immigrants both legal and illegal continue to be attracted to the United States, migrating in an attempt to provide better opportunities for their families and themselves. As the number of i llegal immigrants living in the United states continues to rise and the percentage of illegal immigrant households which consist of children also continues to rise, it is important for the American government to examine